In This Issue · The Arizona Wildlife Federation welcomes stories, art and photographic...

2 ARIZONA WILDLIFE NEWS VOLUME 54 * ISSUE 4 Fall 2012

In This Issue

Page 3 President’s Corner

Page 4 Woody Ridge Wildlife CorridorPage 6 Sportsmen: The Original

Conservationists

Page 8 Talking the Talk

Page 10 Life Member Honored

Page 12 Why Predation Management?

Page 14 BOW Happenings

Page 17 Sportsmen’s Dollars

Page 18 Historical Tales

0 Camp Cook

Page 21 Streams & Game Trails

Page 22 Members

The front and back covers are courtesy of Linda

Dightmon. These images are of West Clear Creek taken on a

beautiful fall day in mid November of 2011.

If you have a photograph or painting that you would like to

submit for consideration on a future cover of Arizona Wildlife

News, please contact AWF at the address below.

ARIZONA WILDLIFE NEWS * VOLUME 54 * FALL 2012

published by the ARIZONA WILDLIFE FEDERATIONAn Affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation

PO Box 51510, Mesa, AZ 85208 * 480-644-0077

The official publication of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, Arizona Wildlife News (ISSN)is published quarterly as a service to affiliate members and Federation members. AWF is Arizona’s oldest conservation organization. Theeditorials and commentaries in this publication do not necessarily reflect the mission or position of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. AWF is anequal opportunity provider.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation welcomes stories, art and photographic contributions. We will consider, but assume no responsibility forunsolicited proposals, manuscripts, art, photographs and transparencies. Contact the Federation office at 480-644-0077 for details.

Advertising inquiries should be directed to the Arizona Wildlife Federation at the above address or phone number or by [email protected]. AWF does not assume any financial responsibility for errors in advertisements that appear in this publication. If notifiedpromptly of an error, we will reprint the corrected ad.

Board PresidentVP Conservation

TreasurerNWF Representative

DirectorImmediate Past President

MANAGING EDITOR

EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

DESIGN & LAYOUT

PRINTING

Ryna Rock

Linda Dightmon

Kim Kreuzer

Linda Dightmon

Lang Printing & Mailing

Tom MackinJohn Gale

Linda DightmonSarah Luna

Mike MatthiesonGlen DickensValerie Morrill

Jody LatimerChris Fonoti

Tom MackinBrad PowellJerry Thorson Bob VahleBrian WakelingRyna Rock

Duane NelsonMaggie SacherBen Alteneder

Loyd BarnettBob Vahle

John UnderwoodRyna RockBrian Wakeling Steve Hirsch

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

CONTRIBUTORS

AWF Mission StatementAWF is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating,

inspiring and assisting individuals to value, conserve,enhance, manage and protect wildlife and wildlife habitat.

ARIZONA WILDLIFE NEWS

2012/13 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

ARIZONA WILDLIFE FEDERATION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

OTHER OFFICERS

Legislative LiaisonSarah Luna

Fall 2012 VOLUME 54 * ISSUE 4 ARIZONA WILDLIFE NEWS 3

President’s CornerBy Tom Mackin

It’s hard tobelieve that Summeris probably over and

while Valley temperatures will still remain close to triple digitsfor a while longer, here in Flagstaff we’ve already received3-4 inches of “termination dust” on the Peaks. By the time thisissue goes to print the beautiful golden aspens will have shedtheir leaves and another glorious Fall will be quickly headingtowards Winter. This Summer and early Fall has been aperiod of much activity for the AWF and several articles inthis issue will highlight some of those activities. Perhaps oneof the most important roles we’ve played this year is thecampaign to educate and inform Federal candidates on thoseissues important to many sportsmen in our state. Our newlyelected Legislative Liaison Sarah Luna will discuss this morein her article but with so many positions coming up forelection we felt it was really critical to make sure that thoserepresenting us in DC for the next several years have a veryclear picture of what we feel is important and what we believethey should be doing to protect and conserve our naturalresources. We strongly encourage all voters to not onlycast their ballots but to also make sure that your vote is goingto those who understand and commit to these importantresponsibilities.

Our September Board meeting was held in the WhiteMountains, continuing our efforts to meet in different Regionseach quarter, with at least part of our goal to remind our Boardthat we are a statewide organization and while we don’tclaim to represent all sportsmen on all issues, we do share aconcern for all wildlife species and wildlife habitat throughoutour state. That being said, our roots that cover almost 90 yearshave always had a major emphasis on game species and the

same can be said today, hence we try to work very closelywith the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission,the one agency that’s responsible for all wildlife in our state.Through our affiliates we try to solicit feedback and involve-ment in order to maintain a well balanced approach tomanagement needs and concerns across a wide spectrumof geographic areas and varied wildlife species. We allunderstand that what’s good for one species or group is alsovery likely to provide benefits to other species. Recentdiscussions and activities drove home that point when itwas pointed out that, “what’s good for trout, is good for wildlifeand vice versa”. If our forests are healthy and our watersupplies protected many species benefit and many differentrecreationists get to enjoy their favorite pastimes.

In closing, I want to thank our members and partners fortheir support and cooperation. No longer can any one groupexpect to resolve significant issues without that support andwe’ve been very fortunate to have a high level of cooperationfrom many different groups and agencies.

Letters to the Editor

Keep your communications short and to the point. Allmust be signed. If you send us questions, we will seekanswers and print them here. There may be times mailvolume may prevent us from publishing every letter wereceive, but we will do our best to print as many as possible.

Send your ‘snail mail’ to:

AWF Mail Pouch Arizona Wildlife FederationPO Box 51510, Mesa, AZ 85208Send your e-mail to: [email protected]

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Summer 2012

For several years now, theArizona Game and Fish Department(AZGFD) has been working withother local partners including theForest Service, Coconino Countyand several NGO’s to identifyimportant wildlife corridors in thearea surrounding Flagstaff. Theselinkages are important for manyspecies of wildlife, providingmigration, travel, rearing areas,forage and water access. Thecorridor between the San FranciscoPeaks and the Rim above Sedonahas been identified as one of thesecritical areas by numerous partnersand stakeholders. The AZGFD incooperation with the Arizona WildlifeFederation (AWF) and theArizona Sportsmen For WildlifeConservation (AZSFWC) wassuccessful in submitting a matchinggrant totaling $57,440 to theNational Forest Foundation in late2011. With AZGFD staff providingProject Management, the variouspartners established a plan toimprove this corridor. Six areas wereidentified within this corridor and onthe ground activities commencedin early 2012. The first phase, incooperation with Coconino CountyParks and Recreation, was tomodify a existing livestock allotmentfence along Woody MountainRoad near Rogers Lake. Over25 volunteers and agency staff,including several AWF members

were successful in rebuilding over1 ½ miles of fence utilizingestablished wildlife friendly stan-dards. While rebuilding the fence,gates were installed to minimizevehicle access to several miles offorest roads, improving resting andfeeding areas as well. The roadsand surrounding 640 acres will seefurther improvements with theplanting and new growth of nativegrass seed.

The next area treated was at theCentennial Forest of NorthernArizona University (NAU) wherealmost 2 ½ miles of wildlife friendlyfencing was installed/improved over6 work days. The improved fencingwill restrict previously unregulatedgrazing by over 500 domesticsheep, improving the availability offorage for wildlife during the rearingseason of early to mid-summer.

Several volunteers spentanother day along W. Rt. 66 near thenew Clay Avenue detention basinremoving old barbed wire fencingthat was never removed when a newbuck and pole fence was built,creating a significant hazard towildlife as they moved through thisarea. The skeletal remains of atleast three wild ungulates werediscovered during the process ofremoving approximately ¼ mile ofold fence. This project was handledby the Coconino Sportsmen andthey partnered with the City ofFlagstaff for proper disposal andrecycling of the old wire.

The next area for treatment wasnorth of I-40 near A-1 Mountainwhere 1 mile of an active grazingallotment fence was rebuilt to wildlifestandards, improving accessibilityfor the many pronghorn, elk andmule deer in the area. Again severalAWF members provided assistancewith this daunting task. An additionalbenefit of this project was thereduction of vehicle access toimportant meadows and wetlandsadjacent to the fence. Furtherenhancements were provided byvolunteers who removed invasiveDalmatian Toadflax over severalacres near this fence as well. Thisphase saw cooperation with theCoconino National Forest whoprovided clearances and oversight.

The next project moved south ofI-40 once again to another portionof the NAU Centennial Forest nearBudweiser Tank, an importantsummer range area for wildlife witha large earthen water tank andextensive meadows. Unfortunatelythis area has been severelydegraded with trash, off road useand years of shooting in a large oldquarry and nearby wooded areas.Over 40 volunteers from NAU andagency staff spent in excess of 250hours removing 6 tons of trash anddebris from this area. The 5 roadsleading to the quarry were closedwith large rocks and signs advisingthat these former abuses are illegalwere placed near the quarry andother nearby shooting areas which

Woody Ridge Wildlife CorridorBy Tom Mackin


were also cleaned up. Invasivecrawfish were removed from theearthen tank and they provided aninteresting appetizer for lunch.

The final phase of this projectwas the rebuilding of almost 1 mileof old allotment fence on the bound-ary of the Arboretum. The fence wasin disrepair with old posts, barbedwire and other debris littering a largeopen meadow with several earthenwater tanks present, many fed by

spring runoff and summer mon-soons through Sinclair Wash. A newthree wire fence was installed on theboundary with over three truckloadsof old wire and debris removed andrecycled. Once wildlife patterns areestablished, all rebuilt fences willhave wildlife jumps installed for useby deer and elk and smooth PVCpipes will be installed on the newbottom smooth wire that was raisedto a minimum of 18-20”s for use by

pronghorn (who don’t jump fences,they go under), elk calves and deerfawns. All cooperating land manage-ment groups received instruction,spare supplies and tools so they canprovide ongoing maintenance andupkeep on the fences.

In closing the members of AWFshould be proud of their involvementin this great multi-agency/groupcooperative effort to improve thelands surrounding Flagstaff.

Volunteers removing old fencing near

Sinclair Wash and the Arboretum in Flagstaff

Volunteers preparing for fence modification along

Woody Mountain Road adjacent to Rogers Lake

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What influences sportsmen more – gun rights orconservation? When asked to choose between protectingpublic lands and prioritizing energy production, which doconservative-leaning sportsmen choose? How do they feelabout the future of conservation in America as children spendmore time indoors and the impacts of climate change theplaces they hunt and fish?

Sportsmen, who tend to be Republican and conservativevoters, view conservation as important as gun rights. Theyexpress support and concern about a number of conservationissues including access to public lands, climate changesolutions, Gulf clean-up, clean water protections andprotecting our children’s future according to a national surveyrecently completed by a large Republican firm.

• Hunters and anglers favor restoring Clean Water Actprottions to wetlands and waterways in order to protectour health and important fish and wildlife habitat.

• A plurality of sportsmen think protection of America’spublic lands should be given a priority, even at the risk oflimiting the amount of energy supplies such as oil, gasand coal that the United States produces.

• Anglers and hunters believe climate change is currentlyoccurring and they believe we have a moral responsibilityto confront climate change to protect our children’sfuture. And, they overwhelmingly believe the economycan be strengthen and jobs created by investing inrenewable energy while reducing climate changepollution.

• BP should be held accountable and fined the maximumamount allowed for the 2010 Gulf oil spill and be requiredto pay to restore the Gulf to ensure the recovery of fishand wildlife populations.

• Children not spending enough time outdoors is a problemand a threat to wildlife conservation in America.

Hunters and anglers tend to be conservative, Republicanor Independent. And, they vote.

• 42% of those interviewed indicated they were Republican,32% indicated they were Independent with 18% indictingthey considered themselves Democrats. 27% indicate

they split their ticket when voting• 50% consider themselves conservative, including 22%

who consider themselves very conservative.• 60% vote in every election with an additional 21%

indicating they vote in almost all elections.

Conservation is just as important to these hunters andanglers as gun rights.

• 47% believe that gun rights are important, but conserva-tion is just as important. 37% believe that gun rightsare the most important issue facing sportsmen, while13% believe that gun rights are not as important asconservation issues.

• A partisan divide is evident here with 56% of Democratsindicating that gun rights and conservation are equallyimportant while 50% of Republicans believe that gunrights are the most important issue. 50% of Independentsbelieve the two issues are equally important as do 54% ofticket-splitters.

The sporting public favors restoring Clean Water Actprotections to wetlands and waterways including smallercreeks and streams.

• 79% favor restoring Clean Water Act protections including57% who strongly favor this.

• We again see strong bi-partisan support with 94%of Democrats, 78% of Independents and 73% ofRepublicans favoring restoring Clean Water Actprotections to wetlands and waterways.

Hunters and anglers want public lands protected andthey want access to public lands that to date have beeninaccessible and they want the government to take their needsand desires into account when issuing oil and gasleases. Outdoor recreation in this country contributes $730billion a year to the U.S. economy.

• 49% believe protecting public lands should be givenpriority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energysupplies such as oil, gas and coal the United States

Sportsmen:The Original Conservationists

by John Gale, NWF Regional Representative


produces. Just one in three (34%) favor development ofenergy supplies even if our public lands suffer.

• 79% of these hunters and anglers support allowingthem access to public lands that to date have beeninaccessible. 58% strongly support this action.

• Opening up access is not a partisan issue with 83% ofRepublicans, 79% of Independents and 71% ofDemocrats supporting open access. And, those votersnot aligned with one party (ticket-splitters) favor thisaccess by a margin of 77% to 18%.

• 88% agree that prior to the federal government issuing anoil or gas lease to drill on public lands the variousresources and uses of the land should be consideredincluding fishing and hunting, protection of wildlifehabitat and insuring air and water are kept clean.

• Hunters and anglers overwhelming across alldemographic groups agree including 91% Democrats and87% of Republicans and Independents.

• 84% want the federal government to make it a priority toconserve fish and wildlife habitat and manage publiclands for fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation.

• Again we see strong agreement across all demographicgroups including among 90% of Democrats, 84% ofIndependents and 82% of Republicans. And, 85% ofthose that do not vote a straight party ticket (ticket-splitters) agree by a margin of 85% to 11%.

These hunters and anglers believe climate change isoccurring and believe we have a moral responsibility toconfront climate change to protect our children’s future. Theyalso believe that climate change is a cause of the recent hottemperatures we have experienced.

• 59% agree that climate change is occurring.• Majorities in every region of the country, both men and

women and all age groups agree that climate change isoccurring as do 86% of Democrats and 61% ofIndependents.

• Republicans split on this question with 45% agreeing and49% disagreeing.

• Ticket-splitters agree climate change is occurring by amargin of 67% to 28%.

• 66% agree with the statement “We have a moralresponsibility to confront climate change to protect ourchildren’s future”.

• Majorities of all partisans agree with this statement,though there are clear partisan differences. 90% ofDemocrats agree while 53% of Republicansagree. Those voters available to either party (ticket-splitters) agree with this statement by a margin of 75% to20%.

• 57% of these hunters and anglers believe climate changeis a cause of the hot temperatures we have experiencedrecently including the hottest July on record.

• 72% agree that we can improve the environment andstrengthen the economy by investing in renewableenergy technologies that create jobs while reducingclimate change pollution.

• Strong bi-partisan agreement is shown on this question,though Democrats (90%) agree in higher numbersthan Republicans (67%) or Independents (65%). Ticket-splitters fall between Democrats and Republicans at 81%agreement.

• 57% want the President and to enforce the authoritygranted to the EPA by the Supreme Court to limit carbondioxide and other air pollutants.

• Support for this enforcement is partisan based withDemocrats favoring enforcement while Republicans aresplit. 55% of Independents favor enforcement as do 67%of Ticket-splitters.

Hunters and anglers want BP held accountable and wantmonies collected from fines used for Gulf restoration andnot spent on roads, bridges, ports and convention centers.

• 81% of hunters and anglers agree that BP should be heldaccountable and fined the maximum amount allowed forthe 2010 oil spill and required to restore the Gulf to ensurethe recovery of fish and wildlife populations.

• Bi-partisan agreement is shown on this question with 97%of Democrats, 75% of Republicans and 78% ofIndependents agreeing that BP should be heldaccountable. 81% of ticket-splitters agree BP should beheld accountable.

• And, 87% of these hunters and anglers want the moniescollected to used exclusively to restore fish and wildlifehabitat and not for infrastructure such as roads, bridges,ports and convention centers.

• Strong partisan agreement is shown here with 88% ofRepublicans and 81% of Democrats agreeing with thisstatement.

Children spending hours each day in front of the television orcomputer screen and not enough time outdoors is a problemand a threat to the future of wildlife conservation in America.

• 87% of hunters and anglers believe it is a very serious orserious problem that children today are not spendingenough time outdoors and away from television,computers and video games.

• Partisans of all stripes agree this is a problem with 91% ofDemocrats, 88% of Republicans and 83% ofIndependents viewing this as a problem.

• And, 91% are concerned a great deal or somewhat thatthis lack of connection to nature and the outdoors is athreat to the future of wildlife conservation inAmerica. 65% are concerned a great deal.

• This strong degree of concern extends across partisanlines with 68% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats and60% of Independents expressing a great deal of concern.

This national public opinion poll conducted among 800self-identified hunters and anglers was conducted byChesapeake Beach Consulting from August 23 throughSeptember 1, 2012 for the National Wildlife Federation. Thesample for this survey was randomly drawn from a list of self-identified hunters and anglers. To qualify, a respondent musthave indicated they were a hunter, an angler or both as wellas a registered voter. All interviews were conducted bytelephone, including 15% of the interviews by cell phone. Themargin of error for this study is plus or minus 3.2% at the 95%confidence level.

33% of these respondents indicated they only were anglerswhile 12% were only hunters. 55% indicated they both fishedand hunted.


In Your Own WordsWe heard from a hunter in Flagstaff who said “publiclands are held in trust for all Americans and areessential to the well-being of not only the multitude ofwildlife species but also to human beings who need aplace to go to get away from the stresses of life…Don’tmake Arizona like other states such as Texas where onlythe wealthy are allowed to hunt and fish…”

An AWF member in Oro Valley said “any Congressmanwho thinks they can claim that they represent huntersand anglers and also sell off public lands should thinkagain. THERE IS NO SINGLE ISSUE more important tome than keeping my public lands open for my use, notSecond Amendment Rights, nothing is more important.”

A Tucson member said “I hunt throughout the west andin particular southeastern Arizona. Public lands arecritical to my hunting of Coues deer and Javelina andsharing those hunts with family and friends. This Fall Ihave Arizona/New Mexico and Montana deer tags andthose hunts will occur on a mix of public and state lands.I spend at least $5 to 10K a year in hunting pursuitsacross the west. It is absolutely criminal to sell off ourpublic lands!!”

A Tempe member said “the Grand Canyon is ourcountry’s Crown Jewel. All efforts which mightcompromise this masterpiece need to be avoided. Ioccasionally fish Lee’s Ferry and have hunted North andSouth of the Canyon. These areas are to be preservedat all costs.”

And a member from Mesa said “the economic benefits ofuranium mining near Grand Canyon National Park arelimited to just a few, the damage that it causes affectseveryone and everything….Back in the 1980’s uraniummining particularly north of the Grand Canyon was in aboom period. The mining companies filed claims on

almost the entire gamepreserve – i.e. the NorthKaibab – and had they beensuccessful we would have lost some of the best deer andturkey hunting and wildlife watching would also havebeen threatened…”

This is a very short sample of the more than 50responses we’ve received thus far to a survey sent toAWF members, our affiliates and partners across thestate as part of our project to educate Arizona’sCongressional candidates and elected officials.

Candidate Education GrantIn July AWF was awarded a grant to put together a teamof sportsmen and women from AWF and other groupsacross the state to communicate with Congressionalcandidates this election season about federal policiesimpacting Arizona’s resources, wildlife habitats andaccess to public lands.

Armed with a packet of information about our differentgroups and miscellaneous issues of concern to each ofus (the issue packet is available here:http://www.azwildlife.org/ht/d/sp/i/119217/pid/119217 ),our communications team has been on the roadtraveling across Arizona since August. We’ve met witheight Republican and Democratic U.S. Housecandidates and key staff for a U.S. Senatorial Candidate.We have reached out to at least the same number ofadditional House/Senate candidates and are working toschedule additional meetings over the next severalweeks.

Some of the specific issues we’ve covered in ourmeetings include the moratorium on uranium miningnear the Grand Canyon, the importance of hunting,fishing and other outdoor recreation activities toArizona’s economy, the Land & Water Conservation fundand other issues related to public lands.

Talking the Talkon Federal Policy

by Sarah Luna, AWF Legislative Liaison


Continue to Talk the Talk

If you haven’t already done so,please take a few minutes to goon line and complete the survey(http://www.azwildlife.org/ht/d/DoSurvey/i/119390).

We are compiling your personalstories and putting them intosurvey summaries to give tocandidates and elected officials.These have been very positivelyreceived thus far leading onestaffer to comment that personalstories from constituents areexactly the kind of informationneeded to truly representArizonans in Washington. It’s apleasure working with you anddon’t hesitate to contact mewith any thoughts, questions orconcerns. As the “new kid on theblock,” I need your advice andinput.

Respectfully,

Sarah

You may contact Sarah at:[email protected]

CD 1 Democratic Candidate Ann Kirkpatrick, Sarah Luna,

AWF President Tom Mackin, and AWF Conservation Chair Brad Powell.

AWF Legislative Liaison Sarah Luna, CD 1 Republican Candidate Jonathan

Paton, AWF Conservation Chair Brad Powell, and Jim Walker AZ Leadership

Council of TU. Not pictured: AWF Region V Director and Arizona Antelope

Foundation BOD Glen Dickens.

WHADDA’ YA’ KNOW?

1. What is the largest natural lake

in Arizona?

2. Is it a bad sign when water in

a lake is greenish and has reduced water clarity?

3. What is a fish’s chance of

survival if you forcefully

remove a hook it has swallowed?

4. How many rainbow trout do

Arizona’s Game & Fish

hatcheries produce annually?

5. What is the main cause of

non-sustainable condor populations in Arizona?

6. How can you help reduce lead poisoning in

Arizona’s Condor population?

(Answers found on Page 16)


AWF Life Member Wendell Swank Honored

For Career Of Service To Wildlife

SSometimes one’s legacy is not apparent

during the course of their active work

years; the importance of their accom-

plishments in context does not fully reveal itself

until later in life. Former Arizona Game and

Fish Department Director, Wendell Swank, fits

this description. Decades after his director-

ship, his role in the transition of the

Department to a science-based wildlife man-

agement model has emerged as a milestone in

the course of wildlife conservation in Arizona.

Swank was inducted into the Wildlife for

Tomorrow Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame at the

Foundation’s fifteenth annual induction banquet at

Scottsdale Chaparral Suites on August 25. During

the course of the evening, his contributions to

moving the Department from a group of largely

enforcement officers to a college-educated, science-

based agency were celebrated by the diverse group

of Foundation’s supporters.

Swank graduated from Texas A&M University

and was a member of the first group of college

graduates hired by the Game and Fish Department

as game managers in the 1950’s. This does not seem

like a remarkable proposition today, but it was

unusual in that era. He was a research biologist and

the author of a book, The Mule Deer in the Arizona

Chaparral and an Analysis of Other Important Deer

Herds. He became Assistant Director of the Department

under Director Robert J. Smith in 1957.

The late 1950s and early 1960s brought a change in

direction in the Department’s administration. Swank was

instrumental in that evolutionary process. Specifically,

he was in charge of implementing the new wildlife man-

ager program for the Department. He made sure that

wildlife manager trainees were recruited from colleges

all over the country, not just from Arizona

schools. Swank also instituted a training protocol

where each wildlife manager trainee was exposed to a

six-month education program, during which time each

new employee worked with department employees in

different regions of the state. This extended training

by Steve Hirsch, President, Wildlife For Tomorrow


period, together with a summer law enforcement

program, strongly influenced the next generation of

department leaders.

Swank was named Department Director in 1964, and

served in that role for four years. As Director during

the middle 1960’s—a time of tremendous growth and

transition in Arizona—his leadership was essential as the

Department continued its transformation into science-

based wildlife management.

After 15 years with the Department, including four

years as Director, Swank was offered a job he couldn’t

refuse. In 1968, he took over the world’s largest wildlife

management post: the United Nation’s administration of

the wildlife program for the emerging nations of Kenya,

Uganda and Tanganyika in Africa. In that role,

Swank worked with African governments in Nairobi as

a supervisor and coordinator of a program designed to

enhance the living standards of the people and to

improve wildlife management in that region. He served

in several prominent positions during his time with the

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations, including Wildlife Advisor to the government

of the British West Indies and Project manager for the

Kenya Wildlife Management Project.

His path eventually led him back to Texas A&M

University as a professor in the Department of Wildlife

and Fisheries Sciences. His time was devoted equally

between teaching and research. His classes at the

graduate level included wildlife law and policy and

supervising graduate student research. Swank’s profes-

sional research included studies on Eastern wild turkeys,

northern bobwhite, kit fox and fox squirrels. As a retired

Professor Emeritus at A&M, he continues to work on

field surveys and share his vast knowledge of wildlife

through lectures and his writings.

The Hall of Fame Induction plaque was accepted by

Dave Swank, Swank’s son. “The Swank family thanks

Wildlife For Tomorrow and the Arizona Game and Fish

Department for recognizing the role Dad played in

the Department’s growth and development in the years

he worked there,” Swank told the 200-plus crowd in

attendance. “He is truly honored to have a place in the

Outdoor Hall of Fame.”

Also inducted in the 2012 WFT Hall of Fame Class

were tireless Arizona Bighorn Sheep advocate Ed

Shannahan, Anglers United organizer and promoter

Dave LaMorte, knife maker extraordinaire and outdoor

supporter John Toner and the Arizona Chapter of the

National Wild Turkey Federation. These five inductees

joined 64 existing Hall of Fame members recognized by

the Foundation, the charitable foundation arm of the

Arizona Game and Fish Department. Also receiving

awards of special merit at the August 25 banquet were

Sarah Gorby, the State’s first licensed wildlife rehabilita-

tor, and Paul Miller, recognized as the oldest known and

likely last surviving of the original Arizona Game

Rangers.

Ed Shannahan is pictured

right, centered with family.

Lower right is Dave LaMorte.

Lower left is John Toner. The

Arizona chapter of the

National Wild Turkey

Federation is pictured left

during a seminar.

2012 Hall of Fame


TThe mere mention of predators invokes strong

emotion. Predators fascinate people. Some people

love them, some people love to fear them, and

others dislike them or what they are capable of doing. The

fact that predators make their living by preying on other

animals that live lower on the food chain is part of their

allure, and their cryptic habits add to their mystique.

Published scientific literature recognizes their importancein the overall stability, regulation and health of ecologicalcommunities. Predators interact with prey, and prey speciesinteract with the vegetation on which they rely for sustenance.Predators compete with one another, as do prey, for limitedresources. As early as 1948, Aldo Leopold shared his appreci-ation of the role that predators play rather poignantly in hisdescription of wolves and deer in “A Sand County Almanac.”

Yet, what we know about predators is but one aspect ofour fascination. Unfortunately, what we know about predatorsis far more limited than what we know about many preyspecies, and there are often contradictory or confusingscientific interpretations. Consequently, people use theirimagination to fill in the gaps. More anthropomorphic attributesare given to predators than to virtually any other guild ofspecies.

Richard Louv, in his 2008 book “Last Child in the Woods,”identifies that a larger proportion of the general populace areaware of nature today than in many previous decades, yet amuch smaller proportion have any real experience in nature.The use of imagination to fill in knowledge gaps is of particularconcern for a wildlife management agency. Accuracy is notalways a goal in Disneyesque interpretations. Emotion canplay a strong role in public perception, and public perceptionremains an important consideration for the Arizona Gameand Fish Department because we manage Arizona’s wildlife inthe public trust. In taking management actions, we have toconsider public perception.

We Have To Increase Our Knowledge

The science of wildlife management continues to evolve,building on knowledge gained through research and manage-ment. When the Arizona Game and Fish Department takes anaction, such as to pursue a translocation to extend the rangeof a species, it is a result of a management decision. Similarly,taking no action in a particular instance, such as deferringthat same translocation and allowing the species to expandits range by natural exploration and colonization, is also a

management decision. Management decisions must take into account the

likelihood of natural events (such as the likelihood that naturalcolonization will occur, considering the natural and manmadeobstacles), the available budgets and human resources tosupport alternative actions, risks to the population shouldthe event not occur, and myriad other considerations. Theseare all based on scientific knowledge that the biologicalcommunity has amassed.

A consideration when managing any wildlife population isthe factors that influence the population’s mortality rate. Thecritters are dying: why? One possible reason is predatorsand predation. Predators and predation can influence thepersistence of an existing or newly established population ofany wildlife species from fish to bison, including predators.

Historically, predators were viewed by some as badfor other wildlife, and people used predator control in anindiscriminate fashion to eradicate predators whereverpossible. Several species, such as wolves and grizzly bears,were eliminated from large portions of their range. Today,many populations of these predators are increasing. Evenpopulations of predators that were never in jeopardy, such asmountain lions and black bears, are expanding their range andabundance. Wildlife managers must take these changes inpredator populations into account when managing thepersistence and abundance of prey species.

Wildlife management agencies now consider a broaderperspective than simply predator control due to those decadesof research and experience. That broader perspective istermed “predation management.” Predation management is aseries of management decisions that collectively move a preypopulation toward increasing numbers by reducing the effectof predators. These management decisions may include asuite of actions, from limited lethal removal of predators todisease monitoring and treatment, habitat enhancement,manipulation of water availability, livestock management,translocations of prey species and hunting.

In short, it can involve any activity that may alter arelationship between predator and prey in a way that isdesigned to favor the prey (or, in some cases, the predator).Predation management does not try to eliminate a predatorfrom the landscape; only to change the effects of predation.

Recognizing the importance of this distinction in terms, theArizona Game and Fish Commission adopted a predation

Why Predation Management?

By Brian Wakeling

Photographs by George Andrejko/Arizona Game and Fish Department

Originally published in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine


management policy in September 2001. The policy affirms thecommission’s appreciation of predators and desire to managefor their continued persistence.

So Why Manage Predation?

So why does a wildlife management agency engage inpredation management? Frankly, it is a series of tools we canuse to meet a goal. For example, when the number ofpronghorn fawns born and surviving to breed within an area isbelow the level at which a population can sustain itself, thatpopulation begins to decline. While all populations of allspecies fluctuate annually, an extended decline can reduce apopulation to dangerously low numbers. At low numbers, apopulation is at greater risk of extirpation from a catastrophicevent such as a disease outbreak or a wildfire. It is moredifficult for that population to recover once favorableconditions return. We are also learning more about theimplications of genetic isolation and increased frequency ofharmful genes when populations reach low levels.

Predation management, including limited lethal removal ofpredators, can be used to accomplish goals such as reducedfawn mortality for a pronghorn population, which in turn mayprevent that population from incurring the risk associated withlow population numbers.

Other approaches to managing predation can be usedas well, but some have added challenges. For instance,translocations of prey species from areas where they areplentiful can be a useful tool, but the process of capture andrelocation places biologists in risky situations where an injuryor even death is possible. Further, restoration efforts can beexpensive, and establishing self-sustaining populations maybe difficult without addressing predation at a later date.Whenever possible, keeping a prey population from decliningdramatically is a far better, and less costly, managementoption. Limited lethal removal of predators can be a relativelyinexpensive and temporary approach to boosting preypopulation recruitment, with fewer risks to biologists.

Managing the relationship between predators and preycan be compared with managing the relationship betweengrazing ungulates and their habitat. Left unchecked, elknumbers increase to levels at which they can haveundesirable effects on their habitat. So, wildlife managersroutinely use hunting to manage populations of big gameungulates such as elk. And as there are places in Arizonawhere elk were not present historically and their abundance iscurrently managed to attain extremely low numbers (forinstance, game management units 28, 31 and 32), similarlythere are portions of the state where specific predators werenot common historically and these predators are managedtoward objectives with low numbers as well (for instance,mountain lions in southwest Arizona). Hunting seasons havebeen liberalized in some areas for mountain lions and coyotesto effect a change in prey populations; population and harvestdemographics are carefully monitored in such areas to ensurethe sustainability of both predator and prey populations.

Do Humans Need To Intervene?

Well-meaning individuals may argue that a naturalbalance among populations of predator and prey used to exist,and if we were to simply allow nature to take its course, thenall would be well. Across broad landscapes unmarred byhuman influences such as highways, canals, railroads,housing developments and introduced plants, historicallythese species existed in what scientists call a “dynamicequilibrium.” In other words, it was not a balance, but a

relationship that fluctuated, sometimes dramatically. Today, habitat fragmentation and alteration are probably

the biggest factors threatening most wildlife. Trying to retaincritical corridors plays an important role in predation manage-ment, because prey species can re-colonize habitats with lesseffort and more rapidly when linkages remain intact. Lackingspecific management actions to enhance connectivity, such asa highway overpass for bighorn sheep, an underpass for elk orpinyon-juniper thinning to facilitate pronghorn movement,ungulate populations are isolated, genetic interchange isreduced and the effect of predation is more pronounced.

Even relatively natural habitats are dramatically differenttoday than they were 100 years ago, before fire suppression,timber treatments and unregulated grazing altered the land-scape. Today’s livestock producers and timber managers,having learned from their predecessors’ good intentions, nowhave far better knowledge, skills and tools to improve habitat.But to simply walk away from managing livestock, forests,rangeland, ungulates, threatened species or even predatorsfails to recognize the importance that planned managementplays in retaining those things that society desires. Nature cancertainly take its course if left unmanaged. Yet the results maybe undesirable. It is more expensive and time consuming torestore wildlife that has been extirpated than to enhance itschances of survival before it reaches low population levels.

As humans, we have spent much of our evolutionaryexistence in an effort to modify the natural environment tofavor our desired objectives. We’ve learned to build fire, hunt,tend crops, treat disease, educate ourselves and reach for thestars. The Arizona Game and Fish Department managestoward desired outcomes instead of hoping for an eventualone that meets its goals. While an eventual outcome may bethe same as the desired outcome, it may not arrive as quicklyor with as much certainty if we don’t guide it. That is why ourtrucks bear the slogan, “Managing Today for WildlifeTomorrow.”

■ Brian Wakeling is chief of the Game Branch of theArizona Game and Fish Department.

Managing the effects of coyotes and other predators

on prey such as pronghorn is a challenge.

BOW Happenings

IInnsstt rruuccttoorr PPrrooff ii llee::

SSttaann SScchheeppeerrss

by Linda Dightmon

It started with a simple ‘want ad’ in the 2009 winter edi-

tion of this publication. Our much beloved camping

instructor had relocated to California and we needed a

new one. The ad read something like this, well it read

exactly like this:

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The Arizona BOW program is looking for a basic camp-

ing instructor. Candidate must have basic camping

knowledge, camping gear and a positive attitude. While

the pay sucks, we guarantee lots of fun. And we will feed

you! Contact Linda at [email protected]

It wasn’t long before I received an email from Stan Schepers.

He was interested! He explained that he loved teaching

and was ready for a new challenge. Now, from our want ad

you can see that this is not an easy class. Not only does the

camping instructor volunteer time and knowledge, we ask that

they use and haul their own gear! BOW has some tents but

that is about it. The formal camping session happens on

Friday afternoon. This is when the class sets up a camp, from

pitching tents, making fire rings to changing mantels. Then the

participant has the choice of sleeping in the tents one or both

nights. So, this class in reality can last the entire weekend. It

takes a dedicated instructor and a rabid camper to teach this

class.

We worked it out where Stan would come as an observer for

the April 2010 workshop. He could stay the whole weekend or

just a couple of hours to see if he really wanted to do this. It

also gave the BOW staff a chance to get to know him. Stan is

a long time AWF member, an avid hunter and camper, active

in Arizona Predator Callers and an instructor for the Arizona

Trapping Association. He is also a heck of a nice guy. We

liked him, now to see if he liked us. He has a soft spoken easy

demeanor and I hoped that our participants wouldn’t scare him

off.

He ended up staying the weekend, visiting with the

participants and hearing from them just how wonderful Kristina

(his predecessor was). On Sunday, I asked if he was still

interested and I was delighted to hear him agree to do it. I

encourage instructors to make the sessions their own and

teach to their strengths. We will often change descriptions to

tune them into the style of the instructor. He wanted to move

from the meadow to the woods so that it would be more like a

primitive camp. His reasoning was that the meadow looks like

a golf course and who camps on a golf course? I thought that

sounded like a great idea and told him so.

Then, he looked through me with those baby blues and

turning very serious he said. “I don’t know anything about

s’mores. I don’t even know what they are?”

“Dude,” I said “You just get some marshmallows, some

chocolate, melt them together and put the gooey mess on a

graham cracker.”

“I was told that Kristina had a special way of making them.”

OK, there is no denying that Kristina is the queen of

S’moredome. But I assured him that while he could never

hope to reach that plateau, we would make sure that he would

get proper training in the art of making s’mores.

That August Stan brought his girlfriend, Dannette, for backup

and I assume moral support. He had a pickup full of gear and

towed another pickup bed full of stuff. As Mark Hullinger

would say, he was loaded for bear.

There is a group of women that come to the summer

workshops and opt to pitch tents in the meadow rather than

stay in the cabins. These ladies were appalled that Stan would

move “Kristina’s camp” from the meadow. They informed him

that the camping class always stays in the meadow. Stan said

that they were welcome to stay at his camp but it was not

going to be in the meadow. Thus begins the campsite location

war. Stan held his ground and instructed the class away from

the meadow. A few of his students did sleep in the tents and

we sent Holly his way to help with s’mores.

In almost every workshop there is a crisis. This crisis d’jour for

this one was the last minute absence of a hiking/backpacking

instructor. Stan and Danette stepped right into the role and

we avoided the unhappy task of cancelling a class and

overloading others. This is the type of talent so desperately

needed at BOW. Needless to say, I was thrilled when he

agreed to teach the camping class the next year.

This past September there were significant storms just before

the workshop. This caused a little wash out on the way to

Stan’s camp. He made a ‘bridge’ so that his students could get

to the campsite without getting wet feet. There was also a

custom metal sign showing the way. We checked out the

s’more supplies. We found flavored marshmallows and

gourmet dark chocolate. There was even a bottle of Merlot.

We decided that he is over the s’more thing. After three years

he is now a seasoned BOW instructor and the camping class

location wars are now a fun inside joke. “I would have won

them over,” he quipped, “If it wasn’t for the water in the road.”

For the 2013 September workshop we will be using Stan’s

talents for a predator calling session. There are plenty of

resident coyotes to talk to and it will be held at Stan’s camp

that is not in the meadow.

Stan owns S & S Steel services, a small welding business

where he crafts fences, gates, iron metal works on windows,

fireplace doors or anything else he or his customers can

dream up. You can reach him at:

[email protected] (480-461-8730)

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLEDid you know that scholarships areavailable for first time BOW participants? Applications for April will be acceptedbetween February 1-18 and for Septemberbetween June 26 - July 10. Visit:www.azwildlife.org for more information.

Want to help at BOW?

We are always looking for folks

to help bring stuff to camp and

drive the shooting class to the

range.

Contact Kim at: 480-644-0077

Donations NeededArizona BOW is building their own bone box.Do you have an animal skull or a pelt in goodshape just laying around? The Arizona BOWwould love to take it off your hands! We usethese things for hands on learning in severalof the classes that we offer.

Contact Linda at [email protected]

Call Kim at 480-644-0077

The Becoming an Outdoors-Womanprogram in Arizona is doing well. Weplanned and executed three workshopsthroughout the year. Each were threeday events beginning Friday afternoonand ending Sunday at noon. The Deluxewas held in January and the twotraditional workshops were held at theFriendly Pines Venue near Prescott.One was in April and the other inSeptember.

The Deluxe workshop was held atSaguaro Lake Ranch in January. Thissmaller workshop filled up at 35 partici-pants. We were blessed with chamber ofcommerce Sonoran desert weather. Weoffered a javelina hunting class and anevening presentation about this uniquedesert dweller. Many thanks go out tothe ‘bird lady’ Tice Supplee for doing thisfor us. Several ladies at the workshopwere signed up for the women’smentored javelina hunt that took place inFebruary. It was a good lead in for them.This hunt is free to the participant andsponsored by one of our instructors,Amanda Moors of coueswhitetail.com.By partnering with people like Amandawe work together to get more women inthe field. Kathy Greene did a great jobcoordinating the workshop giving mesome much needed breathing room.

The April workshop was once againsoft in numbers, with 56 participants.The weather was a little too warm forApril but still cooler than the valley. Welost the use of the indoor rifle rangein Prescott Valley at the last minuteand planned a makeup class. I waspleasantly surprised to see most of theclass make that extra trip to Ben Averythe following Sunday for the rifle class.We found a wonderful new hiking/backpacking instructor in April. Hername is Stacy Boone. Stacy hails fromColorado where she owns and operatesStep Outdoors, http://stepoutdoorscol-orado.com. Stacy is a leave no tracefanatic and a perfect fit for our program.She was originally going to just observebut when we needed an instructor for

campfire cooking, she stepped right inand did a wonderful job.

In August, Kathy and I traveledto Nova Scotia for a coordinatorsconference. We were introduced toCeltic culture, experienced a sailingadventure in the harbor, ate parts of alobster that one would not think wasedible, went fishing, hiking and oh yeahworked really hard. There were about30 coordinators from Canada and theUS present. Round table discussions onrecruitment and retention, BeyondBOW, using Facebook, marketing andinstructor training were some of thetopics covered. It was interesting to seehow each state or province tackled thesame issues. We had a great time andbrought back a lot of ideas to make ourprogram better.

The summer workshop this year forthe first time was held in September. Weare still reeling from the registrationresponse. Six weeks before the work-shop date we were booked up with a fullcomplement of 100 women! We are stillnot sure if it was because of the laterdates or some other reason. Surveyresponses were on par with otherworkshops. The ratio of new participantsto repeats was about the same.Newbies make up about three quartersof each three day event. All weekendthe weather threatened to make thingsinteresting. We registered the entirecamp in pouring rain but when it wastime for the first session the rainstopped. Things were a bit soggy at firstbut the huge monsoon thunderheadskept their distance the entire weekend.There was not even a hint of complaintfrom any of our 100 participants. BOWLADIES ROCK! Taking advice from theNewfoundland coordinators we tried alive auction on a fly fishing package andwere pleased with the results.

Dates are set for 2013. The Deluxewill be January 25th- 27th. Kathy will becoordinating the spring BOW to be heldApril 19-21. We are keeping the summerworkshop in September, with the dates

being 6-8. We will be offering a newclass in 2013 beginning with the Januaryevent. We are going to teach the ancientskill of stand-up paddle boarding. Go toJimmy’s SUP at http://www.paysonmar-ketplace.com/marketplace/businesses/jimmys-sup/ to check it out.

As always any member of the boardis welcome to join us for any BOWworkshop. Come for the entire weekendor just join us for a Dutch oven treat ormaybe some laughs at the eveningfollies.


WHADDA’ YA’ KNOW?

Answers

1. Mormon Lake in Northern

Arizona

2. It means the planktonic algae

community that supports a food

chain that allows fish to feed,

reproduce and grow is present,

so the lake is productive.

3. 50%

4. One Million (1,000,000)

5. Mortality due to lead poison-

ing

6. By using non-lead ammuni-

tion when hunting in the con-

dor’s core range, or alternative-

ly by removing your entire

game carcass and gut pile from

the field.

(From Page 9)

2012 Arizona Becoming an

Outdoors-Woman in Reviewby Linda Dightmon


Oct. 24, 2012

Conservation of wildlife resources and your outdoor recreationheritage is at risk!

“The Greatest Story Never Told” is the mantra being extolledby the nation’s wildlife conservation community in celebrationof the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport FishRestoration Fund (WSFR). Farsighted and forward-lookingsportsmen worked with Congress in 1937 to pass the Pittman-Robertson Act, whereby excise taxes on hunting equipmentflow into a trust fund that is one of the most significant sourcesof funding for state wildlife conservation efforts. Subsequentamendments of the act and passage of the Dingell-JohnsonAct and the Wallop-Breaux Act have since added excise taxesfrom fishing equipment, archery tackle and motorboat fuel togrow the funding available for wildlife conservation. By law,your dollars are allocated to each state to support importantconservation work on the ground and to keep critical wildlifeprograms going. Since 1939, the State of Arizona hasintegrated these funds, along with dedication of license-basedrevenues, into the core of our financing for wildlife conserva-tion. With these resources, the state has been able to restoreelk and bighorn sheep populations, construct and operateboat ramps and shooting ranges, restore native troutspecies, develop a modern hatchery program and continueconservation of our wildlife heritage.

Your funds have been untouched in the 75 year history of theWSFR fund and have been used only for conservation. Inorder to participate in the program and receive these funds,each state and territory made legal, binding commitments thatthese funds (and license fees) would be used only for wildlifeconservation in specific, approved programs. Ironically, thecurrent administration’s Office of Management and Budgethas decided that your funds must be withheld (sequestered)under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2012. While thisaction only keeps funds from being allocated to state wildlifeagencies (for now) and does not in and of itself divert yourfunds, it does set the stage for future Congressional actionwhich could sweep these funds from the trust accounts intothe federal treasury. The fact that this diversion is occurringduring the 75th anniversary of the WSFR Act is the ultimateirony. Federal agencies charged with the fiduciary protectionof this trust fund are now the architects of the only author-ized diversion in the fund’s history.

Because of explicit language in the original acts, these fundsare to be allocated to the states and are not subject to annualCongressional appropriation. It is difficult to understand howthese funds are now subject to the provisions of the BudgetControl Act of 2012. Excise taxes would still be collected frommanufacturers of hunting and fishing equipment and excise

taxes would be paid by hunters, anglers, archers, boaters andshooters. Interest will still accrue in the various accounts.However, the new action of the Budget Control Act automati-cally denies the full allocation of funds to each state for theirintended purpose of fish and wildlife conservation. This shouldbe a critical concern to all sportsmen and conservationists.Under the Department of Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service,every state would see funding reductions in administration,multi-state grants, boating safety, wildlife and sport fishrestoration (WSFR) that will directly affect the department’sability to do on-the-ground conservation, permanent agencyjobs, agency resources and agencies’ ability to provide publicaccess for hunting, fishing, boating and shooting.Conservation of wildlife resources and your outdoor recreationheritage is at risk, no matter what your choice of hobby, sportor pursuit. For Arizona, the impact for 2013 could be as muchas $3 million with cuts to Wildlife Restoration, Sport FishRestoration, Boating Safety and other programs.

State wildlife agencies have been working diligently with theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Interior toexempt State Trust Funds from being sequestered, but to noavail. Remember, these are your dollars as a sportsman or asa manufacturer of hunting and fishing equipment. If you are anArizona citizen, your dollars support wildlife-related recreationthat is a $2 billion economic driver annually; more than golf,more than professional sports. The federal administrationneeds to know how the sequestration of these funds and theimpacts on your programs here in Arizona will affect youpersonally (contacts listed below). You may also want tocontact your Congressional Representatives on this issue.

DOI Secretary Ken SalazarDepartment of the Interior1849 C Street, N.W.Washington DC 20240Phone: (202) 208-3100Email. [email protected]

USFWS Director Dan Ashe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1849 C Street, NWWashington, DC 20240Phone: 1-800-344-WILDEmail. http://www.fws.gov/duspit/contactus.htm

White House – Council on Environmental QualityCouncil on Environmental Quality722 Jackson Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20503Phone: (202) 395-5750Email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

Federal Government Targets Sportsmen's Dollars to Reduce Deficit


The Great Land GrabBy William Carr (Part 1)

Reproduced by Ryna Rock from Arizona Wildlife Sportsman March 1947

When a small group of individualsseek to grasp large tracts of public landfor private and commercial use, itseems that the matter should be inves-tigated by the persons who own theproperty—the taxpayers of the affectedState and of the Nation. There is amove on foot in Arizona and in severalnearby regions to acquire millions ofacres of our national forest and otherfederally supervised lands, ostensiblyfor State possession. Congressionalbills have been drafted to legalize thisprocedure and proponents of themeasure have traveled throughout theterritory urging various organizations topass resolutions favoring it. The vastmajority of the people, who would losetremendously by any such change,have not been informed concerning thereal significance of the proposals. As aresident of Arizona I cannot stand byand watch this acquisition program goforward, in my state, without offering aprotest and a challenge.

PRIVATE OWNERSHIP REAL

ISSUE: I debated the issue, “Federalversus State Ownership of Lands inArizona” on the University of ArizonaRound-Table Radio Forum in Tucsonon December 9, 1946. My opponentswere the State Land Commissionerand the Vice President of the StateCattle Growers Association. One thingI soon learned was that the title of thedebate was in error. The word “State”should have been omitted. I had beenled to believe that the movement toacquire our public forests was a Stateproject; that the land, if ceded bythe Federal government, would revertto the State of Arizona. My belief

was entirely wrong. The stockmen’srepresentative admitted freely that theproposed move was but the initialstep to private ownership. A questionimmediately flashed through my mind:If the lands are to be privately owned,what of the small land holders, grazingpermittees, sportsmen, picnickers,and thousands of others involved inendless ways in this scheme; what ofthem?

I moved to the microphone andbegan to debate and ask questions –keep in mind it was two against one.The records repeatedly show that thegentlemen who opposed me wereseeking not State ownership, butownership by the few—I emphasizethis statement for it should be clearlyunderstood. This bold declarationastounded me for I had considered thatState possession of these particularlands would be bad enough! The ideaof private ownership of some of themost wonderful national forests in allAmerica was overwhelming andunthinkable for numerous reasons.

The Land Commissioner said, “Weonly want the lands in the nationalforests that are usable for grazingpurposes.” As a matter of factpractically every inch of the nationallands in Arizona from the highestmountains to the desert are nowgrazed. Just where he would draw theline he did not say, although he didremark that “we do not want timberlands.” It would be interesting to knowexactly what he does want.

STATE VERSUS FEDERAL

FUNDS: I asked the Commissionerwhether he thought the people of

Arizona, at their own expense, couldmaintain for unique multiple use thenational forests and similar propertiesas scientifically as the taxpayers of theentire Nation. I said I did not believethat this State or any other State couldsecure sufficient funds to adequatelysupport the necessary research,operations, development, and mainte-nance of these regions. It could havebeen added that tourists from the entirecountry contribute more than 60 milliondollars annually to Arizona businessoperations, largely thanks to Federallysponsored improvements and facilitiesin the various scenic and recreationalspots. The Commissioner blandlyremarked that the State could do a farbetter job. However, he did not saywith what funds or how it could bedone, especially if the lands wereowned by a privileged few.

NO ROOM FOR SMALL

OPERATORS: Without hesitation, thestockman said that large cattlecompanies would eventually securethe lands, once an acquisition bill hadpassed in Congress. He continued thatit had been demonstrated that smalloperators could not make a living onlimited parcels of land. He stated thathistory had shown only the large cattleoutfits could make a “satisfactoryincome” and, as a consequence, the“little fellow” had been forced out whilethe large groups had bought up orotherwise used the lands. I recalledthat cattle wars had been fought overthis very proposition. I wondered whatassurance these individual cattlemenmay have that they will not be chargedmore for the land, or that they can get

Historical Tales


it at all. I was told that there were“proposed bills to care for all of this.”Would that all the proposed bills in theworld would “take care” of the thingsthey were intended for!

Thoughts of the desires or rights ofpersons other than stockmen neverentered his head. He seemed totallyunaware of the enormous stake thatthe people as a whole have in thisproblem—people from all over thecountry as well as Arizonans. Neitherhe nor the Land Commissioner hadanything to say regarding the question:Would the people of the State andNation be attracted to our outstandingregions of scenic and recreationalvalue if the Federal government hadnot developed them at great expenseand maintained them for public as wellas commercial use?

REAL RIGHTS: It was here thatthe Commissioner put up considerableof a smoke screen labeled “States’Rights”. We were all for States’ Rights;there was not the slightest questionabout this point, no argument at all. Wewished the State to have all the rights itcould acquire and we knew that onecertain way to deny many of thesesame vital rights would be to take overthe wholly impractical financial burdenof operating the public lands when weare not able to obtain so much helpfrom all people. It would seem thatArizona has more financial headachesthan we can cure right now, and thismatter of securing added land withoutmachinery to operate it, and no fundsto obtain the machinery, is nothingshort of a fatal policy. There is animmensely practical as well as politicalconsideration in this brand of States’Rights wherein the welfare of the publicis concerned. States’ Rights, in thisinstance, really mean more rights andpower and privilege in the hands of afew. This is especially true whenone considers that the ultimate goal isprivate ownership.

There have been hungry eyes onthis public property for a long time. Thegreat voiceless groups most affectedby any scheme to change ownership ofthese lands are the majority of thepeople. They are not aware of all thatis involved. To date they have beeninformed only by highly vocal pressuregroups, men who wish to dictate theland policy of the United States.Stockmen have spearheaded this drive

and are the prime movers in theentire matter, for they think they standto benefit greatly.

Representative of the specialinterests have pushed this campaignfrom the start in an effort to influencevarious civic bodies to support theproposals. Many groups have gone onrecord as endorsing this movement.They have been unduly swayed byprejudiced persons. They have madeno effort in most instances to hear theother side of the story, but havepermitted resolutions to be railroadedthrough. Organizations that now cry forreturn of the public domain includepowerful interests from the East, onlytoo anxious to gain control for financial“killings”. Arizona would lose itsbirthright (speaking of States’ Rights) ifshe gave up this land to a selfish few.

An anguished howl was shortlyraised about “Bureaucrats, and moreBureaucrats!” We were able to agreewherein this complaint was justly duebut we were not discussing bureau-crats; we were talking about Arizonapublic land, its condition, and whoshould have the rights to it. Thenthe State-employed Commissionercomplained bitterly about “that ForeignGovernment in Washington.” I remem-bered that many boys and menand women died in a war scarcelyconcluded and many wars before thatfor this same “Foreign government.”His outburst did not set so well with me.I also thought about the 16 milliondollars that the Government had spentin national forests alone in this State, tosay nothing of the additional millionsfor endless reclamation projects, forreservoirs, and other objectives thathave so greatly aided in making theState what it is and have resulted inuntold good to thousands. I somehowfelt that the “States’ Rights” outcrywas dictated by more than regionalsentiment and independence of spirit.In reality it was a case where the shoutfor freedom from any and centralgovernmental management wasactually a bid for added personal powerfor the few.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE:

The Commissioner had much to sayabout past history and its bearingupon the present problem. I am alsoconcerned about the present and thefuture. With enormous, incalculableforces of destruction now abroad in the

world we, the citizens of the UnitedStates have little enough nationalresources, thanks to prodigal waste inthe past. It is unthinkable that weshould contemplate relinquishing someof the potentially best land we possess,in order to pad the pockets of privateinterests.

Many who seek this Arizona landhave repeatedly demonstrated theircomplete inability to husband it wisely.The State official commented bitterlyupon the sum total of lands operated bythe government at Federal expense.He referred to a comparison betweenEastern and Western states in thisrespect. The fact is that the Easternstates have, of course, larger andmore diversified populations and havebeen established far longer. They areinhabited by enough people andenough interests to demand that Stategovernments heed the welfare of alland not cater to the special requests ofthe few. This is particularly apparentwherein the ownership of land isconcerned. Steps have long sincebeen taken to prevent the very folly thatthe Commissioner advocates hereby asmall, prejudiced group seeks to gainlarge parcels of public property fortheir own exclusive use. To date theFederal, not the State government hasprevented this abuse of the people’sland rights in Arizona and in otherWestern states. As a matter of record,the Federal government does own andmanage large areas in the East, inregions where the population is notgreat, for the same basic and soundreasons that concern all states: toprotect and guarantee the heritage ofall the people from the insatiable desirefor land on the part of the few who areoblivious to public welfare and futurefundamental needs of America as awhole.

WILLIAM CARR, the writer of this

article, is a past president of the

Arizona Wildlife Federation (Arizona

Game Protective Association). He was

formerly an Associate Curator of

Education, American Museum of

Natural History and jointly Park

Naturalist, Palisades Interstate Park

Commission. He made his home in

Tucson for a period of time. His profes-

sion was writing and he was a special-

ist in Interpretive Land and Wildlife

conservation. (Part Two of this articlewill appear in the next issue of AWN)


Potato Chicken Casserole

1/2 lb bacon, cut into chunks

1 (10-oz) can cream of chicken soup

8-10 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 (10-oz) can cream of celery soup

2 medium onions, chopped

1 c sour cream

1 can mushrooms, drained

1-1/2 tsp seasoning salt

1-1/2 tsp poultry seasoning, divided

½ tsp garlic salt

12-14 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced

salt and pepper to taste

2 c grated cheddar cheese

Heat a 12-inch Dutch oven until hot. Fry bacon

until brown. Cut chicken into bite size pieces. Add

chicken, onions, mushrooms and ½ teaspoon of

the seasoning salt. Stir, then cover and cook until

onions are translucent and chicken is tender.

Add potatoes. Stir in soups, sour cream, and the

remaining seasonings. Salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and cook for 45-60 minutes using 8-10 coals

bottom and 14-16 coals top heat. Stir every 10-15

minutes. When done, cover top with cheese and

replace lid. Let stand until cheese melts.

Craisin Bread Pudding

6 eggs

½ c craisins or raisins

½ c sugar

½ c walnuts, chopped

½ c sour cream

¾ c brown sugar

1 c half-and-half or milk

½ c butter, melted

½ loaf bread

In a small mixing bowl, mix together eggs, sugar,

sour cream and half-and-half. Line a 12-inch

Dutch oven with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Layer

ingredients in this order: ½ of the bread, craisins

or raisins, walnuts, premixed liquids, sugar, and

butter. Repeat in the same order using remaining

ingredients.

Heat Dutch oven over 9 hot coals. Cover with

dutch oven lid and place 15 hot coals on the top,

creating a 325 degree oven. Bake covered, 30-40

minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center

comes out clean. Serve warm. Serves 6-8.

Camp CookBy Ryna Rock

Top Bottom

10-inch 10 to 12 8 to 1012-inch 12 to 14 10 to 1214-inch 14 to 16 12 to 1416-inch 16 to 18 14 to 16

Oven size Number of briquettes

Join the AWF on

Facebook!www.facebook.com/azwildlife


Streams and Game Trails

By John Underwood

FALL FISHING

This is a time of the year when the fish are deciding justwhere to hang out. Take Bass for instance, they chase theshad into the coves so as to feed up for the coming wintermonths, or so it is suppose to be. Tricky fish they are, as somelike to hang out in 20 to 30 feet of water and don’t seem to domuch. Others are feeding on top water early and late in theday and others are staying with the brush, tree and rockledges. So where do you start?

My fishing partner and I spent 3 days at Roosevelt Lakeand we can honestly say that we tried every place starting atdaylight until mid afternoon, (as we were tired out fromthrowing most everything in our tackle boxes). Our successrate was fair to low on our catch and release, however welearned a lot for later trips. The Lake was at 45%, lowest Ihave seen it since, well can’t remember when, and still goinglower. This left only 2 really usable ramps open for launching,Windy Hill and Cholla.

You can check out the water levels and ramp info by goingto: http://www.srpwater.com/dwr/report.aspx?dt=10/24/2012

TIDBITS

Sometimes no matter how quickly you set the hook, abass has engulfed your bait to the point where extraction is dif-ficult. Once the hook is removed the fish will often times beginto bleed. A tip that might save that fish is to keep on board asoft drink that contains citric acid ( Mountain Dew, Sprite, 7UPfor a few). Once the fish begins to bleed from the gills or gul-let, pour the soft drink on the affected area. The acid in thedrink will make the capillaries shrink, reducing and maybeeliminate the hemorrhage. Thus saving the fish for anotherday.

Chemicals in tobacco, sunscreen and insect repellent areamong the most common offenders, but did you know thecheese curls you pack next to the salami sandwich andGatorade in the boat cooler are a fierce fish repellent? Turnsout gamefish don't like the smell of the preservatives used tokeep all kinds of snack foods from going stale as they sit onthe shelves of your local gas-n-grub.

Fish-attracting agents can cover up some of the man-stinkon a lure, but it's a better idea to keep things clean in the firstplace. In other words, don't tie on that ½-ounce jig during yourlunch break, and consider a scent eliminator like ‘No Trace’that's supposed to eliminate noxious fish-repelling odors, evenDEET, at the molecular level.

“The Sportsmen’s Daily” offers a searchable databasewhere you can determine what has been happening in yourstate. The popular “Eye-on-the Antis” articles continue to

expose the methods and tactics of radical anti-hunting andanti-trapping groups.

The best news is that The Sportsmen’s Daily can bedelivered to your computer each morning much like thenewspapers of yesteryear landed on your door step. Use yourmouse to make this your home page and to help you makeaccurate decisions on what action to take—or what to pursuethat day. Take a tour at www.ussportsmen.org.

NCPA

National Center for Policy Analysis has taken issue withthe claim that traditional lead-based ammunition poses a riskto wildlife. NCPA Senior Fellow Sterling Burnett observed thatthe EPA was not allowed by Congress to regulate or ban leadammunition. Even if they did, Burnett said, "there is littleevidence supporting the claim that lead ammunition poses asignificant harm to animals and humans."

"Condors," he said, "are one of the few species in whichlead ammunition is arguably doing harm - but protecting themdoes not justify a call for a nationwide ban."

Perhaps, Burnett observed, limited restrictions in thecondors home range might be justified to prevent harm. Healso observed something that hunters and conservationistshave known for decades: banning lead would actually beharmful to wildlife.

Hunters and shooters pay excise taxes on all ammunitionthey purchase. That money is used to directly fund wildlifeconservation programs. According to Burnett's research, a banon lead ammunition would endanger much of the $1.66 billionper year in wildlife management and conservation fundingfrom taxes and fees on guns, licenses and ammunition.

Please read more for yourself at:http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba768.

SMALL GAME

Not much to report at this time. The early Dove seasonproduced some excellent shooting and bag limits. Whitewingwere still in the area I hunted between Phoenix and Tucson,however with all the rain during that time, the areas were verymuddy and lots of standing water. Late Dove season beginson November 23rd and runs until January 6, 2013.

No Quail reports, Open now until February 10th 2013. While you are in the field, pick up a few Cottontails along

with your Dove and Quail. Good hunting.

Take a Kid Hunting or Fishing with you

for the Thrill of a Lifetime.

Until next time, Be Safe and Enjoy the Great Arizona Outdoors


Eric Ahlstrom Apache Junction

Lisa Andersen Phoenix

Kathe Anderson Scottsdale

Leslie Baker Show Low

Don Billick Phoenix

Duane Blau Mesa

Gail Brockmeyer Gilbert

Jeff & Roxanne Browne Flagstaff

Ron Buckner San Tan Valley

Julie Carter Prescott

Vincent Cattolica Pinetop

Suzanne Chitty Phoenix

Shelly Clayton Phoenix

Ellen Cohen Dragoon

Linda Cremir Sun City

Nicole Earls Phoenix

DeAnne Falise Chandler

Katt Fedor Gilbert

Roberta Flood Prescott

Pamela Foreman Cave Creek

Walter Gallaher Mesa

John Gannaway Phoenix

Jeff Grant Chandler

Louise Gutawski Scottsdale

Sheree Hanson Lake Havasu City

Coral Hanson Lake Havasu City

Patricia Hassing New River

Jim Hawkins Scottsdale

Carol Hess Maricopa

Shannon Hollihan Phoenix

Shirley Howland Mesa

Anne Hull Chandler

Kris Kidder Lake Havasu City

Bill Larson Phoenix

Jim Littlejohn Tucson

Lois Lorenz Gilbert

Karen Luffman Chandler

Lynn Lydon Phoenix

Klaudia Malanowski Phoenix

Jaime McAdams Scottsdale

Jeannie McGehee Avondale

Kate McMichael Mesa

Welcome New Members

Shauna Mendoza Gilbert

Steve Miller San Tan Valley

Marcie Moody Prescott

Michael Munroe Gilbert

Sandy Myers Tempe

Diane Novak Gilbert

Philip Olson Tucson

Barbara Peltier Lake Havasu City

Michelle Pollard Gilbert

Feather Proctor Scottsdale

Hank Scutoski Scottsdale

Sandy Smith Gilbert

Mike Trafficano Mesa

Chris Vermeer Chandler

Vera Walters Apache Junction

Ruth Whisler Yuma

Jennifer Wirtz San Tan Valley

Robyn Wyman Tempe

Kirsten Wyman Bagdad

Jeff Yamamoto Glendale

Green At Work!Did you know that you can support the Arizona Wildlife Federation at your workplace? AWF is among 28 leading environmental and

conservation nonprofits that make up the Environmental Fund for Arizona – a vibrant partnership of Arizona’s ‘green’ organizations

working all across the state to improve our natural environment.

Since 2001, thousands of Arizona employees have been offered a ‘green’ choice through EFAZ as part of their workplace giving

campaigns, and collectively have raised over $1 million for the vital environmental work being done by our member groups,

including AWF.

You can donate through EFAZ in the workplaces listed below. Also, if your current workplace doesn’t offer a ‘green’ choice yet,

contact EFAZ to learn how easy it is to start an EFAZ program!

To learn more, visit www.efaz.org.

Please contact Laine Seaton at the Environmental Fund for Arizona if you’re interested in starting or including EFAZ in your

workplace giving campaign!

(480) 510-5511 or [email protected]

American Express

Ameriprise

State of AZ

City of Chandler

City of Goodyear

City of Phoenix

City of Flagstaff

City of Mesa

City of Tempe

City of Scottsdale

City of Surprise

City of Tucson

Town of Queen Creek

Coconino County

Pima County

Maricopa County

Desert Botanical Garden

DMB Associates

JP Morgan Chase

Maricopa County Federal Employees

Maricopa County Community Colleges

Prescott College

Raytheon

Boeing

Southern AZ Federal Employees

United Health

Wells Fargo


AWF Members

Alan Abel TucsonWilliam Acheson FlagstaffPatsy Apple PhoenixJeff Augustine ScottsdaleJames Baldree PhoenixJohn Bauermeister ScottsdaleDavid Beaty MesaDiana Beatty KingmanJohn R. Beck PeoriaDonald Billick PhoenixBruce H. Bishop TempeE Clark Bloom HerefordClarence Bowe Jr. ScottsdaleM.J. Bramley Jr. MesaJay Brandon Apache JunctionJonathan Brooks AnthemWade Brooksby PhoenixRoger J Carroll Sierra VistaGary S. Christensen FlagstaffLouise Coan TucsonClifton E. Cox TucsonDon Cox PeoriaAl Crossman TempeDonald D Dalgleish ScottsdaleHoward Darland MesaAnthony Diana PhoenixJohn E Dupnik PhoenixLinda Erman PhoenixRick Erman PhoenixToni Erman-Kirch PhoenixRobb Evans FlagstaffDonald Farmer Scottsdale

George Flener MesaChris Fonoti Chino ValleyJames E. Frye MesaSteve Gallizioli Fountain HillsJohn Gannaway PhoenixGilbert F. Gehant MesaFred Gerhauser PeoriaDonald Gerould Sun CityJ. David Gibeault TucsonRene G Gilbert AnthemHank Gonzales TucsonKim Graber PhoenixRaymond E. Grice MesaTimm J. Haas WillcoxDonna J Hallman San Tan ValleyWestern Hardwoods PhoenixCole Harvey Casa GrandeMiles C. Hauter S SedonaKristan Hildebrandt TempeJeffery L. Hinkley PhoenixMark Hullinger ChandlerRichard Humphrey TucsonBunny Huntress TempeMike Johns PhoenixRoy G. Jones PhoenixThomas Kalos Paradise ValleyPeter S. Klocki DeweyLee A. Kohlhase MesaWilliam Lacy MesaHarvey J. Lawrence ScottsdaleNancy L. Lewis PhoenixLong Valley Service Happy Jack

Don Luke PhoenixJerry Marquis PageChristina Mathew-Bowers PhoenixPatricia A. McNeil PaysonDuke Mertz ChandlerDavid & Victoria Morgan AnthemSandra Nagiller ParksAllen Naille FlagstaffJack Naperala ScottsdaleMike Neilson DeweyFred Nobbe PhoenixDaniel & Annalee Norton ScottsdaleDonald J. Parks Jr. PeoriaArt Pearce Scottsdale Jim Pierce ScottsdalePaul Pristo ScottsdaleRobert & Marilyn Recker Sun CityJudith Riddle Phoenix Bryant & Marsha Ridgway Casa GrandeRyna Rock Camp VerdeKent M. Rogers MesaSarah Ruhlen SupriseRobert C. Schatke ChandlerTerry Schupp TempeLary & Betty Lou Scott ScottsdaleWalter Scrimgeour PrescottDavid Seamans ScottsdaleDuane Shroufe Glendale Jack H. Simon PhoenixJim A. Slingluff TucsonDale Slocum PhoenixRandy Sosin Sedona

Wendell G. Swank CottonwoodGeorge L. Sypherd Sun City WestLewis N. Tenney Jr. HeberLarry Thowe PageRobert D. Tucker BuckeyeCharles W. Tyree TucsonJohn B. Underwood ScottsdaleKen Vensel FlagstaffMark T. Vi t t ScottsdaleStephen T. White ScottsdaleBrian H. Williams ScottsdaleRobert A. Witzeman PhoenixLarry M. Wolfe Sr. PhoenixChuck Youngker Buckeye George Boutonnet Salinas, CA Jim Breck Alexandria, SDDale Hislop Calgary Alberta, CNTerry Johnson Costa Mesa, CARoy Kornmeyer Blackhawk, SDPhil Liles Snyder, OKGlenn Napierskie San Diego, CAJohn W Nelson Montrose, COAce H Peterson Montrose, CORobert Stragnell Hanover, NHJaren Vanderlinden Amarillo, TXTom Ward Orange, CA

Doug Baker TucsonBurton Barr Central Library PhoenixLouise Coen TucsonMilton G. Evans Flagstaff

Don Gerould Sun CityPatti Ho Chino ValleyIvy Hanson CarefreeFrank H Moore Phoenix

Frank Murphy MesaEmmett Reyman MesaDonald G. Roberts FlagstaffSCI Periodicals Los Angeles, CA

Gene Tolle PhoenixJohn C Underwood Tempe

Please take a moment to review the list ofLife Members and past Benefactors to makesure we have not missed anyone.

If you want to add someone to the list orupgrade your own membership status, pleaseuse the membership form provided below.

Arizona Wildlife Federation BenefactorsHonoring the memory of sportsmen and sportswomen through a $500 Benefactor Membership

Arizona Wildlife Federation Life Members

$ 15 Junior (17 & under)

30 Individual

75 Individual - 3 years

45 Family

110 Family - 3 years

100 Patron

500 Life Member

325 Distinquished Life Member

(65+ or Disabled Veteran)

500 Benefactor

75 Small Business

500 Corporate

Mail To:

Arizona Wildlife Federation

PO Box 51510

Mesa, AZ 85208 All Membership fees may be tax deductible

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